File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎422r] (491/1080)

„ _ Three fugitive Russian officers, two of whom are artillerists, have been
invited to join the Gendarmerie as officers at thirty tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a month but have
declined. Their extreme destitution may force them to accept the offer later.
A certain number of the local police, with officers, has been ordered to the
front. Others of their officers have met and have decided that if they are
ordered to perform any services other than their police duties they will refuse
to obey.
Sedition. —Arif, the poet, who recited treasonable and seditious composi
tions at the public meetings recorded last week, presented a copy of these
compositions in manuscript to Muhammad Taqi Khan. This, the latter
resented as he professes loyalty to the Shah. Moreover, he has been quick
to see that the effusions of this individual have alienated from himself some
degree of public regard. He therefore gave him the expenses of his journey
and invited him to remove himself from Meshed.
The matter of the Committee of Khorasan Nationalists has already been
referred to. The leaders of the movement are Turks, one Ghulam, a local
chemist deported to India at the instance of the British some little time
previously, and another, Mir Murtaza. They are credited with being the
authors of conspiracies against the intelligence agents of the Consulate
General and of this office and a representation has been made on the subject.
It is not impossible that this faction would constitute itself a Soviet should
the trend of events give it that opportunity.
1 here is another faction in Meshed calling itself “ Socialists ”. A pamphlet
issued by them was passed into the house of Mirza Buzurg Khan, once head
of the Khorasan Provincial Cabinet. The paper accused him and his son,
Ibrahim Khan Buzurgzadeh, the newly appointed Governor of Koh i-Surakh[
of their pro-British attitude and w 7 arned them of the risks attending this
policy.
JBolsheviks .—It would be superfluous to say that the present atmosphere
of unrest in the Province is the one most suited to these people. It is
unlikely that they will work against Muhammad Taoi Khan in the first
instance. Bather will they encourage and si imulate him to further action
against constituted authority and against British influence until the time is
ripe for laying him low on the ground he has himself prepared.
Dai Nanwai, or The Baker, is now in the service of Muhammad Taqi
Khan and acting as a sepoy Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. on the Sabzevar front. He has long been on the
Black List of this office as a suspected Bolshevik agent. Shamil, a notorious
Bolshevik sepoy Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. , long in police custody and eventually deported from Meshed,
has arrived there again from Merv. He is housed by xhe head gardener of
the Bagh-i-Milli and is carrying on propaganda.
212. CIS-PRONTIER.
Bandargaz .—August 28th.
The mail boat arrived according to schedule but without passengers. The
condition of the crew is an index to the state of the people in Baku. They
had brought with them women’s garments which they tried to sell in the
bazar.
There is no change in the situation.
Bujnurd .—September 3rd.
The correspondent states that in addition to the cavalry and infantry
regiment arriving at Kizil Arvat {vide previous week’s Summary) there was
one battery. Further news of this movement is overdue, but much is ascrib-
able to the present state of affairs in this Province.
A month ago Khan Yomud visited Persian Gurgan with an intention of
promoting Bolshevik propaganda. On his return to Russian territory he was
accompanied by a delegation to the Bolsheviks of Ak Ata Bai Turkmen.
This delgation has returned replete with promises and sixteen boxes of rifle
ammunition.